Halloween-theme store coming to Oakley

OAKLEY -- Bwah ha! Halloween's coming early to Oakley, where the City Council on Monday approved a short-term lease with a local couple who plans to sell costumes and other paraphernalia for the frightfully fun holiday.

In a 4-0 vote, the council agreed to rent the former Centromart building at 3110 Main St. to Brentwood residents Ken and Jennifer Challberg from Aug. 5 through Nov. 5 for $5,000 per month.

Councilwoman Carol Rios was absent.

It'll take about a month to finish ordering merchandise, stock the store and decorate it with props and mannequins, the Challbergs said before the meeting.

In addition to owning and operating three gyms, including California Total Fitness Center in Oakley, they ran a Halloween outlet store in Concord two years ago and most recently, one in Antioch.

The goal is to open either the last week in August or the first week of September, Ken Challberg said.

"We overdo it," he added. "You're going to spend an hour just going through the store. It's a ton of stuff."

Typically a reflection of popular movies, this year's costumes will represent characters in such box-office hits as "Despicable Me" and "Monsters Inc.," Jennifer Challberg said.

The store also will sell Christmas lights and tree decorations.

Although the city still owns the building, it has approved its sale to a Texas developer that plans to turn it into a Dollar General Market, a general merchandise store that also includes a grocery.